Getting Ready!

Nippising Developemental Screening for Children Ages 3-5

Get Ready for School!

Helping Your Child Prepare for Kindergarten

Beginning school is a big, exciting, and rewarding step for your child.  It can also be overwhelming in some ways.  There are several things that you can do to help your child prepare long before the first day arrives.  Perhaps you are already doing these things…

Help Prepare Your Child Physically

Though help is always close at hand, the day will run more smoothly if your child is independent and doesn’t have to wait for aid.  Here are some skills that you can begin practising now so that your child will not think twice about doing these things at school:

• Practise putting on shoes and boots.  Footwear is changed every time we move from outside to inside and vice versa.  It is much simpler for everyone involved if each child can switch their own footwear.

• Practise dressing.  If your child has an accident or a spill, a new outfit may be needed.  Could your child do that if handed spare clothing?  Could your child change to a fresh pair of socks if he/she got wet feet?

• Practise toileting on their own.  Can your child go to the bathroom, start to finish, without support?  That includes wiping, re-fastening pants, and washing hands without needing to be reminded.

• Practise opening and closing lunch containers.  Each child is expected to clear up their own spot at lunch and fit everything back into their lunch pail to go home.  Hopefully everyone has a chance to try the containers out at a picnic or two before school starts.

• Practise zipping zippers and buttoning buttons, particularly on coats to get ready to go outside.  No child wants to always be the last one to get ready to go out for recess!

Help Prepare Your Child’s Mind

• Practise recognizing and printing your child's name.  Label their belongings (please!!!) and put their name on the bedroom door.  Point out the first letter of their name in books, on cereal boxes, and on signs while out for a walk or drive.

• Practise singing the alphabet song.  The alphabet song is a great song to sing while washing your hands to make sure that the soap has had time to do its job before you rinse it off!

• Practise counting aloud.  Count the stairs going up to the porch, the dogs you see while on a walk, or how many carrot sticks you eat at lunchtime.

Help Prepare Your Child Emotionally and Socially

• Speak about school in a positive way.  Tell your child what you enjoyed about school as a child.  Talk about meeting new friends, the caring helpful adults, and learning new things.

• Remind your child that it is okay to be nervous, but that you have confidence that they will be just fine at school.  Then talk about the positives of school again.

• Give your child opportunities to spend time away from home and parents.  They could have a playdate at a friend's house or visit with grandparents.  Remind them that you will always see them again when school is done.  It is okay to have tears - as a child and as a parent.  It is a part of growing up for your child and a part of letting your child become independent.

• Provide opportunities for your child to be part of a group of children.  Though children will always be cared for at school, they will not always be first in line as they may be at home.  Perhaps they could join a library club, or participate in a day camp program to get more experience being with other children  - sometimes being at the end of the line.

• Encourage routines and rhythms within your family.  A lovely example of a routine is bath, book, bed.  The bath helps your child to relax and prepare for what is happening next in their day.  The book gives them some personal snuggle time with an adult, and then they know it is time for sleep.  This helps your child to go to bed consistently so they are well rested and ready to learn each day at school.  Children feel a sense of control and safety when they know what is happening next.